Turkish Tourism Investment Association endorses conference

TURKISH Tourism Investment Association Secretary General Koray Yetik has given a ringing endorsement to the Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC), to be held in Istanbul from  February 7 to 9, 2011.

Yetik said:  “The CATHIC conference will focus the attention of Turkish and global hotel investors and developers on our targets for tourism development in Turkey.  Our goal is that the 100^th anniversary of the Turkish Republic in 2023 will see 70 million tourist arrivals to Turkey and tourism revenues reaching $80 billion.” 

According to Yetik, investment in Turkey’s tourism over the next 13 years will see an additional 500,000 hotel beds, 35 new golf courses, 40 new marinas and an additional 55,000 airline seats. 

“In order to achieve these goals, private investment of $24 billion in Turkey’s tourism infrastructure will be required and the hotels sector alone will require $14 billion of that total in order to deliver 500,000 additional beds.  Government funding of major infrastructure projects of a further $15 billion is also called for.” 

The CATHIC conference will bring global hotel investors, operators and developers together to discuss opportunities, challenges and to make deals.  The conference programme includes speakers with knowledge and expertise in regional and international hotel development, finance, hotel branding and operations.  Further sessions will give perspectives from government, non-governmental organisations and industry analysts.

In addition to the formal conference programme, the CATHIC event offers various networking opportunities and an exhibition.  Delegates will have ample opportunity to meet other participants, discuss opportunities and do business. 

“Having the endorsement of the TYD – whose members comprise the most influential hotel owners and investors in Turkey – is testament  to the level of interest and real development opportunity that  Turkey and the Central Asia region has to offer,” said Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench Events, co-organiser of the CATHIC conference.